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St. Paul and Barnabas were called to this office and apostleship by the immediate intimation of the will of God. Thus we read, "Now there were in the Church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers . . As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away." And surely we cannot read even thus much of the life of the apostle without tracing in it the hand of Almighty God, leading on "from strength to strength," from one degree of Christian grace to another; rewarding self-denying charity and Christian love with,-what is man's best reward on this side of the grave,-the being called to be a worker-together with God in deeds of mercy and blessing; making the heart, which overflowed with the love of the brethren, to be full also of all the best gifts of His Spirit; and teaching us that there is no true Christian sacrifice which is not accepted in His sight, no self-denial which man can practise, out of the true faith and fear of God, which shall in any wise lose its reward; although that reward be often far other than what man looks to receive at the hand of God;

although the reward of faith and obedience in this life be often the being called to undergo more for God's sake, to serve Him amidst greater trials, to wrestle against fiercer enemies, and thus, by God's grace, to have formed within us a higher and more devoted character, to be rewarded hereafter with a brighter crown.

The two chapters which follow are ordered to be read as the lessons for the day, they thus require less to be said on them. The character of the apostle, which they set forth, is still the same, —that of a faithful, and earnest-minded, and affectionate servant of God; and, whilst we follow St. Paul through his first journey, listen to his preaching, and read the details and trials of his mission, we trace the mercy of God in so ordering it, as that he, who had led him, as it were, to the Church, and had been joined with him in good deeds, should be joined with him now, as a "son of consolation," amidst the difficulties of his course.

But to-day is not without its warning. The instances even of apostles may teach us that the hearts of men, even of the best and holiest, are but frail; the ties of human affection, at the best, but weak. Twice we find St. Barnabas and St. Paul opposed in the one case, that of John

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Mark, his sister's son, strong, if not undue, natural affection rendered him, it would seem, unwilling to exercise what St. Paul deemed to be a necessary severity; and in the other case, of which we read in the second chapter of the Epistle to the Galatians, an easy and confiding spirit would seem to have laid him open to the dissimulation and craft of others. But all this is really no cause or occasion of offence. It only reminds us that the best of men, with the best gifts of God's grace, are yet men; and that there is none altogether good but one, that is, God. Nor need we seek to hide from ourselves or others what is amiss in them, at the same time that we bless and magnify God's name for them, and for the example which He hath given us in them.

Indeed, we may well say that these things are written for our admonition," and that we have our lesson to learn from what we read of the contentions of good and holy men, such as St. Paul and St. Barnabas.

All states and circumstances have their trials, all have their dangers, to beings such as we are. Even good and holy men, from being earnest in what seems to them to be right, run a risk of becoming contentious. It is a true and real

danger, and it has often before now caused sorrow of heart to the persons themselves, and much evil to the Church. It is not that any can be too earnest for truth and right, but that they should be careful, at the same time, to maintain charity and humility; endeavouring to enter into the views and feelings of others; putting the best sense upon their conduct; never, without grave cause, imputing to them unworthy motives; but forming a fair and equitable judgment of all that they do; and, no less, cherishing meek and lowly feelings in themselves, together with a true and deep sense of their own personal failings, as what only too often may hinder the right and truth which they profess, from having its due weight with others. What is needed for men to escape a contentious spirit, when led, or forced, it may be, to contend with others in matters of religious faith or practice, is not that they be less zealous, but that they be more charitable, more humble. The fault, so to speak, is not excess of zeal, or earnestness for seeming right and truth; but defect of charity, when we think or judge of others; defect of humility, when we think or judge of ourselves.

And, if such warnings are needed at all times, much more at such times as the present, which

are times of controversy, and, alas! also too often times of bitterness and wrath. We must "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." God forbid that we should fail in this great and paramount duty through any false or spurious (so-called) charity. But we must contend with meekness, we must speak the truth in love; that so our zeal may be true Christian zeal for God, and that the truth, which we speak, may find an entrance into the hearts of our hearers. And if, after all, contentions do arise, as they must do, let us by God's help preserve real love, a forgiving spirit, and inward peace, in our own minds; resigning ourselves. to God, and remembering those words of the apostle, whose life was spent in contending in love," If it be possible," and " as far as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." And, if this be our duty in the greater matters of Christian faith and practice, how much more in lesser matters of detail and conduct, where, of two parties, each may hold some real and essential truths, and only differ in that the one party fails to see the truth which the other holds, or, seeing it, attaches a lesser value to it than what it can fairly claim. Thus we at this day have a special lesson to learn from, what is in itself painful,

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